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Author News & Interviews

Gregory Maguire is no stranger to rewriting classic children’s fairy tales for adults. His first try was an overwhelming success; WICKED --- a vividly realized revisionist take on L. Frank Baum’s THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ --- was adapted into one of the most popular Broadway shows of all time. Now he returns with AFTER ALICE, a magical new twist on ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, which was recently published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s beloved classic. In this interview with The Book Report Network’s Bronwyn Miller, Maguire discusses what interests him about rewriting children’s stories and how he chooses his subject matter. He also talks about the importance of books in children’s lives --- a subject he is deeply passionate about --- and how he’s careful to avoid a fistfight with Harper Lee.

Aside from being a bit more tired (or a bit more glammed up, depending on the evening), you’re probably the same person in the day as you are in the night. You have the same personality, the same eye color, the same body, the same wants and values. But what if, as soon as it got dark, you turned into someone different? An alter-ego who did whatever he or she wanted, and your day self could do nothing to stop it?

That’s the backstory of the protagonist in Dawn Kurtagich’s debut novel THE DEAD HOUSE --- when the sun dips below the horizon, Carly Johnson transforms into Kaitlyn. And Kaitlyn is the main suspect for the Elmbridge High fire, which killed three students and caused Carly’s disappearance. Now, 20 years later, Kaitlyn’s diary has been found, and THE DEAD HOUSE shows us all of its gritty details, along with video footage, psychiatric reports and witness testimonials.

Below, check out our interview with Dawn, where she talks about the writing process behind such an untraditional novel, her favorite books growing up and what the inside of her mind looks like (pretty awesome, if you ask us!).

Phillip Sallinger is blind. He also has telekinesis, and can move objects with his mind. Phillip is just one of the disabled teen superheroes in Jeremy Scott’s debut YA novel, THE ABLES, which features four friends in the Special Education program at a superhero high school who have to save the world from impending evil. Below, we talk to Jeremy about his inspiration for the book, his favorite superhero and what exactly fills the old suitcases he has lying around his house.

Author Natasha Preston has a few words to the wise for wannabe writers --- don’t write something unless your heart’s in it, and pay attention to your dreams…and nightmares! Yup, you read the second one right --- according to Natasha, your unconscious mind comes up with some great material. That’s how she thought up her latest novel, AWAKE, which follows a teen girl who lived with a cult as a young child and doesn’t remember…but now her birth parents want her back.

Read our interview with Natasha below to learn more about this romantic thriller, as well as get some behind-the-scenes glimpses into her writing regimen, thoughts on WattPad and more!

A lot of older siblings want to inspire their sisters and brothers --- to teach them to be kind human beings, to go after their goals and stick up for their beliefs.

But Rachelle Dekker went above and beyond --- she wrote an entire book (and soon-to-be series) to teach her sisters that “they are worth everything.”

The result is THE CHOOSING, in which Carrington Hale’s Choosing Ceremony goes horribly awry and she’s sent to spend her life as a Lint, the lowest level of society. But rumors of rebellion rattle all of her beliefs, and, surprisingly, resonate deeply with her.

Read below to learn more about THE CHOOSING, the first book in The Seer series, as well as Rachelle’s must-have writing accessory, what it’s like to have a bestselling author for a father and how her imagination and real-life inventions aren’t as different as she once presumed.